PAID ADVERTISEMENT Concern Leet First Responders' for Hilltop High School Access The location for the proposed new "hilltop" QVSD high school continues to be questioned by reasonable people. The letter copied below from the Leet Township First Responders illustrates the major safety concerns for students, school staff and community. This letter was provided to the Leet Zoning Hearing Board. The original letter can be found at: https://www.citizensforagreatschool.com/s/2022-07-08-Leet-Twp-First-Responders-QVSD-High-School-Response.pdf JULY 8, 2022 Dear Mr. Restauri [Legal Counsel for Leet Township Zoning Hearing Board]. . The Leet Township Zoning Hearing Board re-. In this unprecedented and horrible time of jected the Quaker Valley School District's request for a zoning variance for the proposed high school based on a safety concern regarding access to the school from Camp Meeting Road. As the people responsible for public safety in Leet Township, we agree with the Zoning Hearing Board's opin- ion. From a public safety point of view, there are several risks associated with limiting access to the proposed high school location to Camp Meeting Road. common school shooting events, a natural, or man-made, closure of upper and lower Camp Meeting Road at the same time could be disas- trous if something like this were to occur here. First responders would not be able to get to the proposed new high school. Anyone who lives or works on the upper side of Camp Meeting Road will tell you the road is closed many times per year for any number of reasons. Ice, trees, or power lines down, water main breaks, road maintenance, etc... If both upper and lower Camp Meeting were to be closed at the same time it would be impossi- ble for any law enforcement, fire service, or EMS to respond. . Camp Meeting Road is owned and maintained by Allegheny County and their performance in clearing and salting the road in winter is spotty at best. It's been learned repeatedly in school emergen- cies that parents flocking to the school in vehi- cles are a major obstacle in getting first respond- ers to the scene. In the case of the proposed high school, Camp Meeting Road would be the only pathway for parents and first responders to the scene. It was learned at a meeting with the facilities director at the Watson Institute that the biggest safety concern there is a possible closure of Camp Meeting Road and the ability to get kids home. Unlike Encompass, the Watson Institute does not have the ability to feed or house peo- ple. Leet Township Emergency Management would be required to come to their assistance Any closure of lower Camp Meeting Road if the children that commute there daily could would vastly increase the time it would take any not return home due to Camp Meeting Road type of public safety response. being closed. A secondary emergency access Respectfully, through the high school property that does not use Camp Meeting Road could be an emergency access road to help evacuate children from the Watson Institute. .There is an existing access road that leads to the Walker property on Little Sewickley Creek Road. This access road could be improved and used as the emergency route. We suggest this be investigated by the school district as well as the local governmental bodies and first responders. As first responders we feel it is imperative and common sense to have an emergency access to the proposed high school not using Camp Meeting Road and it should be able to accommodate the Cochran Hose Company's ladder truck, which is the largest, and possibly the most important piece of fire apparatus in the Quaker Valley area. Minimum requirements to accommodate this and other emergency vehicles should be specified by the mutual aid fire departments in the immediate area. As first responders we are also surprised that the Quaker Valley School District never asked for input on the location or design of the pro- posed new high school from the people respon- sible for responding to emergencies there. Stephen Panormios - Acting Police Chief, Leet Township Law Enforcement Officer - 21 years Firefighter - 12 years Nathan Turner - Fire Chief, Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter-24 years, 4 years as Chief of the department David Volk - Emergency Management Coordinator, Leet Township First Responder Market - 34 years EMC Leet Township - 6 years 194 Ambridge Avenue, Fair Oaks, PA 15003 Phone: 724-266-2280 Fax: 724-266-6149 www.leettownship.org Paid for by Citizens for a Great School PAID ADVERTISEMENT Concern Leet First Responders ' for Hilltop High School Access The location for the proposed new " hilltop " QVSD high school continues to be questioned by reasonable people . The letter copied below from the Leet Township First Responders illustrates the major safety concerns for students , school staff and community . This letter was provided to the Leet Zoning Hearing Board . The original letter can be found at : https://www.citizensforagreatschool.com/s/2022-07-08-Leet-Twp-First-Responders-QVSD-High-School-Response.pdf JULY 8 , 2022 Dear Mr. Restauri [ Legal Counsel for Leet Township Zoning Hearing Board ] . . The Leet Township Zoning Hearing Board re- . In this unprecedented and horrible time of jected the Quaker Valley School District's request for a zoning variance for the proposed high school based on a safety concern regarding access to the school from Camp Meeting Road . As the people responsible for public safety in Leet Township , we agree with the Zoning Hearing Board's opin ion . From a public safety point of view , there are several risks associated with limiting access to the proposed high school location to Camp Meeting Road . common school shooting events , a natural , or man - made , closure of upper and lower Camp Meeting Road at the same time could be disas trous if something like this were to occur here . First responders would not be able to get to the proposed new high school . Anyone who lives or works on the upper side of Camp Meeting Road will tell you the road is closed many times per year for any number of reasons . Ice , trees , or power lines down , water main breaks , road maintenance , etc ... If both upper and lower Camp Meeting were to be closed at the same time it would be impossi ble for any law enforcement , fire service , or EMS to respond . . Camp Meeting Road is owned and maintained by Allegheny County and their performance in clearing and salting the road in winter is spotty at best . It's been learned repeatedly in school emergen cies that parents flocking to the school in vehi cles are a major obstacle in getting first respond ers to the scene . In the case of the proposed high school , Camp Meeting Road would be the only pathway for parents and first responders to the scene . It was learned at a meeting with the facilities director at the Watson Institute that the biggest safety concern there is a possible closure of Camp Meeting Road and the ability to get kids home . Unlike Encompass , the Watson Institute does not have the ability to feed or house peo ple . Leet Township Emergency Management would be required to come to their assistance Any closure of lower Camp Meeting Road if the children that commute there daily could would vastly increase the time it would take any not return home due to Camp Meeting Road type of public safety response . being closed . A secondary emergency access Respectfully , through the high school property that does not use Camp Meeting Road could be an emergency access road to help evacuate children from the Watson Institute . .There is an existing access road that leads to the Walker property on Little Sewickley Creek Road . This access road could be improved and used as the emergency route . We suggest this be investigated by the school district as well as the local governmental bodies and first responders . As first responders we feel it is imperative and common sense to have an emergency access to the proposed high school not using Camp Meeting Road and it should be able to accommodate the Cochran Hose Company's ladder truck , which is the largest , and possibly the most important piece of fire apparatus in the Quaker Valley area . Minimum requirements to accommodate this and other emergency vehicles should be specified by the mutual aid fire departments in the immediate area . As first responders we are also surprised that the Quaker Valley School District never asked for input on the location or design of the pro posed new high school from the people respon sible for responding to emergencies there . Stephen Panormios - Acting Police Chief , Leet Township Law Enforcement Officer - 21 years Firefighter - 12 years Nathan Turner - Fire Chief , Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter - 24 years , 4 years as Chief of the department David Volk - Emergency Management Coordinator , Leet Township First Responder Market - 34 years EMC Leet Township - 6 years 194 Ambridge Avenue , Fair Oaks , PA 15003 Phone : 724-266-2280 Fax : 724-266-6149 www.leettownship.org Paid for by Citizens for a Great School